Joplin Recovery.

JOPLIN, Mo. policomo.com— Over the last four months, members of the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team have reached out at meetings and public events seeking direct input from Joplin residents regarding what they would like to see in the new Joplin.

On Monday evening, in the Joplin City Council’s packed chamber, residents listened for details from the long awaited report.

"Joplin will set the standard for disaster recovery by demonstrating to America its can-do attitude," the council’s report says.

The committee, which came together after a suggestion by federal emergency officials, created four sub-committees focused on various puzzle-pieces for long term recovery.

The group focused on housing found an increasing need for affordable, multi-family housing. To address this need, they suggested creating pilot neighborhoods, dense population clusters focused around a park, and connected by sidewalks.

The group focused on education suggested using schools as neighborhood anchors, allowing them to be opened for community events and as storm shelters. They suggested the schools set up community gardens and that the city look into pocket parks and expansion of the city’s walking trails.

The group focused on the environment and infrastructure found a growing demand for pedestrian-focused infrastructure, allowing cars, bikers, runners, and walkers to coexist. The group also suggested the city consider curbside recycling, and underground wiring to help clean-up the view, all funded by a private-public partnership.

The group focused on economic development suggested reevaluating zoning to create a business corridor with anchor projects to attract employers, and suggested workforce development to improve the employee base.

"The tornado changed our community and we didn’t have a choice," said Jane Cage, CART’s chair. "We have the opportunity to be the ones that change our community for the better."

The City Council voted unanimously to recognize the committee’s suggestions, and said they will be taking steps shortly to implement some of the suggestions.

"It was an interesting list of projects. I think it is important that we try to move forward as expeditiously as possible but not so fast that we make poor decisions," said Joplin Mayor Mike Woolston. "I think it is important we get the information out as soon as possible."

Jasper County Jail Count

? November 11, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

On past trips through Nevada (the state) I’ve wondered why someone would want to live out in the middle of the desert, isolated by miles of sand. No services such as sewer, water or street maintenance. As odd as it may seem to those of us who choose to live in a community, those who live in the desert like it that way.

I’m thinkin’ it comes more from the fact that they enjoy not havin’ to answer to anyone. They may be responsible folks, but they don’t have to be responsible to any other person. If they live in a fire trap, attract rats, or raise pigs, only they have ta live with it.

Livin’ in a community brings the obligation for some responsibility to the health and welfare of the community. Folks tend ta locate in communities that match their level of that responsibility.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Using Linseed Oil to Preserve Tools

Q: I’ve heard mixed information about using linseed oil to preserve tools over the winter. Do you place it on the cutting blades of garden tools, or only on the handles? Is there an alternative protectant for garden and work tools? -- John F., Providence, R.I.

A: Linseed oil isn’t a good protectant for the metal parts of tools. The reason is that it creates a somewhat gummy, sticky coat that may be hard to clean off come springtime. It often is used to coat and protect wooden handles, but like most preservative products, linseed oil has its benefits and its drawbacks.

First, many people don’t know that there are two kinds of linseed oil available: raw and boiled. Raw linseed oil is extracted directly from flax seeds, with no additives of any kind. It’s straight-up linseed oil and nothing else. The raw oil dries extremely slowly, over several weeks, and so it develops a kind of gummy or sticky texture that you may not want to experience when picking up a hammer.

Boiled linseed oil is not actually boiled. It has several ingredients added that quicken drying time and prevent mildew from setting in. If you want to coat wooden tool handles with linseed oil to preserve them, this is the product to use.

The website NaturalHandyman.com has a pretty detailed article available on various uses for raw and boiled linseed oil.

A note of caution when using linseed oil: After use, wash any rags that are soaked with the oil in soap and water immediately, or store the rags in a pail of water that is covered. Linseed oil tends to heat up as it dries (through a process called oxidation), and while that isn’t a problem for a tool handle with a light coat of boiled oil on it, it can be a problem if a pile of oil-soaked rags are sitting in a corner of your garage drying out. For the same reason, you’ll also want to air-dry the washed-out rags rather than placing them in the clothes dryer. Spontaneous combustion is only fun in science class.

Before you get completely turned off toward linseed oil, keep in mind that safety is a priority when working with any type of solvent or chemical, and review the warnings on the back of all the products you use.